15 Hidden Fried Chicken Joints In Minnesota That Locals Say Get The Crunch Just Right
Minnesota might be famous for hot dish and walleye, but the state has quietly built a reputation for serving some of the crunchiest, most perfectly fried chicken you will ever taste.
Forget the big chain restaurants with their soggy breading and lukewarm service.
The real magic happens at the small neighborhood spots, roadside diners, and unassuming takeout counters where locals line up for golden, crackling chicken that stays crispy from the first bite to the last.
I have spent time exploring these hidden spots, and what I found surprised me in the best way possible: Minnesota takes its fried chicken seriously, and the locals know exactly where to find the perfect crunch.
1. The Coop – South St Paul
On my first drive up to The Coop, I almost missed it and then immediately understood why locals get so protective of their secret.
Tucked at 157 3rd Ave S, South St Paul, MN 55075, this little spot looks like a regular neighborhood takeout joint until you open the box and see the pressure-fried chicken glistening on its checkered paper.
I still remember cracking into my first piece, hearing that sharp crunch before the steam hit my face, and realizing I should have ordered the family-style chicken and potatoes instead of pretending I had self-control.
Regulars grab big mixed buckets with wedges and coleslaw, and the staff calls people by name in a way that makes you feel like you have been coming here for years, even if it is your first visit.
2. Rooster’s BBQ Deli – St Paul
Tucked on a quiet St Paul corner, Rooster’s BBQ Deli gave me that did I really just find this on a random turn feeling the first time I pulled up.
Set at 979 Randolph Ave, St Paul, MN 55102, this tiny spot looks almost too small to hold the kind of reputation it has for pressure-fried chicken, ribs, and smoked meats.
I went for a half chicken dinner and watched baskets of golden pieces emerge from the kitchen so crisp they practically crackled as they hit the tray.
The sides are pure comfort, but it is the chicken that keeps people circling the block for parking, with a shattering crust and juicy meat that makes you forget every soggy drive-thru meal you have ever tolerated on this side of the river.
3. The Brass Rail – Grandy
A long stretch of highway driving suddenly feels worthwhile the moment The Brass Rail sign appears in Grandy.
You find it at 36868 Hwy 65, Grandy, MN 55029, a classic roadside stop that has been serving broasted chicken since 1969 and shows zero sign of slowing down.
My first visit turned into a small personal feast when I realized how hard it was to choose between the four-piece baskets and those crinkle-cut potatoes that soak up just enough seasoning.
Inside, families share big platters while road trippers like me marvel at how the chicken stays insanely juicy under a deeply crunchy, bronzed skin that tastes like it has been perfected over decades of trial runs and happy accidents.
4. Bull’s Horn Food and Drink – Minneapolis
From the outside, Bull’s Horn Food and Drink looks like a relaxed neighborhood hangout, but the fryer tells a much more serious story.
The restaurant sits at 4563 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406, tucked into a quiet corner that fills quickly once the fryer gets going for the evening.
I grabbed a booth under the retro decor and watched plates of golden chicken head toward nearby tables, the crust so textured it almost looked sculpted.
When my own order landed, the first bite gave that perfect crackly sound before the brined meat underneath stayed tender enough that I kept telling myself I would stop after one more piece while secretly planning a return visit before I even paid the bill.
5. Mama Sheila’s House of Soul – Minneapolis
Walking into Mama Sheila’s House of Soul felt less like entering a restaurant and more like stepping into the middle of a neighborhood gathering already in progress.
You will find it at 3744 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407, where the buffet line glows with pans of fried chicken wings, catfish, greens, and other soul food staples that make choosing a small plate nearly impossible.
I loaded my tray with wings that looked like they had been fried with serious intention, the kind of crunchy coating that clings to every bite without turning heavy.
Around me, families swapped stories between refills while I quietly plotted how to justify a second pass through the line, knowing those seasoned wings were exactly the reason locals keep telling visitors this south Minneapolis spot deserves a detour.
6. Tender Lovin’ Chix – Minneapolis
The first whiff of fried chicken and rice drifting out of Tender Lovin’ Chix completely reset my plans for the afternoon.
The shop anchors a corner at 2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408, in the LynLake area, blending a cozy neighborhood feel with a menu that fuses Southern-style crunch and Asian inspired flavors.
I went in thinking I would just try a basket and ended up discovering how well their seasoned breading holds its crunch even after a generous dunk in sauce.
Regulars talk about this place like a small secret, and as I sat by the window watching traffic drift down Lyndale, I understood why, because that combination of crispy chicken, richly seasoned sides, and relaxed energy makes it feel like the kind of joint you want to claim as your own.
7. Nashville Coop – Minneapolis
Heat seekers in Minneapolis kept nudging me toward Nashville Coop, and curiosity finally won.
One of the easiest spots to visit sits in Stadium Village at 856 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, glowing with a bright sign and red patio furniture that practically dares you to pick a hotter spice level than you probably should.
I started with a manageable level and still found myself pausing between bites to appreciate how wildly crunchy the breading stayed under a coat of deep red seasoning and a few pickles on top.
Students, office workers, and hot chicken obsessives line up for tenders and sandwiches, and as I walked away with my nose tingling and leftovers in hand, I finally understood why locals claim this as their go-to when they want both serious crunch and serious flavor in the same meal.
8. Burnt Chicken & Peewees Po’Boys – St Paul
My favorite kind of discovery is the one that feels slightly off the radar, and Burnt Chicken delivers that feeling perfectly.
The restaurant sits at 858 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130, in a space that once housed a neighborhood bar and now turns out Cajun-inspired fried chicken and po’ boys with plenty of attitude.
I bit into a piece of their namesake chicken and immediately noticed how the seasoned crust snapped under my teeth while the meat stayed juicy enough to require a quick napkin grab.
People drift in for baskets, sandwiches, and sides, but the hum in the room really spikes when big orders of fried chicken hit the counter, and that was the moment I decided this Payne Avenue spot had officially joined my personal list of places that get the crunch exactly right.
9. Chicken and Whaaat – Duluth
A gas station stop turned into a full fried chicken experience the first time I followed the signs to Chicken and Whaaat.
You will find it at 231 N Central Ave, Duluth, MN 55807, in the Spirit Valley neighborhood, where the Duluth Grill family quietly built a dedicated fried chicken joint around tenders, sandwiches, and a few focused sides.
I ordered a basket of buttermilk fried tenders with fries and garlic bread and quickly realized why locals talk about this place like a reward for surviving one more lake effect weather swing.
The chicken arrives with a rugged, craggy crust that stays crisp from first bite to last, and as I sat there surrounded by families, workers on break, and fellow road trippers, I knew this gas station-connected spot was exactly the kind of hidden fried chicken joint worth planning a Duluth detour around.
10. Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings – Inver Grove Heights
There are few better cures for road trip frustration than walking into Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings on an empty stomach.
Located at 9043 Broderick Blvd, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076, this franchise outpost hides in a suburban strip yet keeps drawing steady crowds for its Nashville-style tenders, sandwiches, and wings.
I walked in grumpy and walked out grinning after tackling a sandwich with a crust so crunchy it held up to sauce, slaw, and a generous stack of pickles without giving up.
The menu lets you dial in your spice level, and as I watched families share baskets at nearby tables and solo diners focus on their plates like a quiet ritual, it felt clear that this spot has already become one of those low-key suburban favorites that people swear by when they want serious crunch without driving into the city.
11. Pollo Campero – West St Paul
On South Robert Street, Pollo Campero in West St Paul showed me just how fiercely people will defend their favorite marinated fried chicken.
The restaurant sits at 1572 South Robert Street, West St Paul, MN 55118, drawing a steady stream of families and longtime fans who grew up with the Guatemalan brand’s citrusy, herb-laced chicken.
I decided on a mixed piece meal and instantly noticed how the crust shattered delicately while the meat underneath tasted like it had been soaking in flavor long before it ever met hot oil.
Side dishes like yuca fries and Campero rice round out the trays, and as I watched people leave with bags large enough to feed entire households, I realized this spot functions as both a neighborhood quick stop and a nostalgic pilgrimage for anyone who has ever counted down the miles to the nearest Campero sign.
12. Pollo Campero – Brooklyn Center
By the time the Brooklyn Center Pollo Campero opened, anticipation around the north metro had been building for months.
Found at 1340 Shingle Creek Crossing, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430, it opened in March 2025 as the chain’s second Minnesota location, instantly giving north metro diners their own access point to that same ultra crispy, well-seasoned fried chicken.
I stopped by on a busy afternoon and watched staff work through a line of customers who clearly already knew what they wanted, many heading straight for combo boxes filled with golden fried pieces and plantain-heavy sides.
When my tray arrived, the crust had that thin rattle I love, and as I sat near the windows overlooking the shopping center parking lot, it struck me that this new location quietly transformed an everyday errand stop into a serious fried chicken destination for anyone living north of the river.
13. Abang Yoli – Minnetonka
Suburban errands became a lot more interesting the day I routed them past Abang Yoli in Minnetonka.
The restaurant at 12934 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55305, specializes in Korean fried chicken and Asian street food, and the menu reads like a love letter to crispy textures and bold sauces.
I ordered a fried chicken sandwich and a plate of Asian style fries, then sat back while the double-fried crust delivered an impressive crunch that stayed just as crisp under gochujang and chili crunch as it did plain.
Families, couples, and solo diners cycle through the bright dining room, and the whole place carries that energetic feeling of a spot that has already won over locals yet still feels just hidden enough that you can pretend you discovered it first.
14. bb.q Chicken – St Paul
Grand Avenue holds plenty of temptations, but bb.q Chicken is the one that keeps calling me back whenever I crave serious crisp.
You will find this location at 1328 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105, a cozy storefront on a busy stretch that suddenly smells like garlic, soy, and sizzling batter the second you open the door.
I ordered a split platter with classic and sauced pieces, and every bite delivered that glassy, shattering crunch Korean fried chicken is famous for while still somehow avoiding heaviness.
College students, neighborhood regulars, and delivery drivers cycle through constantly, and as I sat at my table working carefully through each wing to avoid wasting even a bit of the crackly skin, it was clear this Grand Avenue spot has already earned its place among Minnesota’s sleeper fried chicken champions.
15. Official Fried Chicken – Target Field, Minneapolis
You would not expect one of Minneapolis’s crunchiest birds to be hiding behind a turnstile, but Official Fried Chicken at Target Field proves otherwise.
The stand operates at Target Field, 1 Twins Way, Minneapolis, MN 55403, near Section 133, serving bone-in fried chicken, dry rub wings, tenders, and sandwiches on game days.
I tried it between innings and ended up spending more time admiring the golden crust than watching what happened on the field, because the chicken tasted like something from a dedicated restaurant rather than a quick stadium snack.
Fans walk away from the counter juggling trays of hot fries and hefty pieces that stay crunchy even after a slow climb to the upper deck, and as I headed back to my seat with greasy fingers and a happy grin, I realized this might be the most literally hidden fried chicken joint in Minnesota, tucked inside a ballpark yet fully worthy of its own dedicated visit.